Hannah Cotter and Marlee Wierda’s main message at this week’s “Pros & the Pie” in Ranger Hall was that everything happens for a reason.
The two reporters for Channel 7 in Boston shared how everything you are doing will help you get to that final destination, even if you are not working the job you want currently.
Cotter was a former student of URI professor Molly Yanity during her time at Quinnipiac University.
“Molly was a great resource for me,” Cotter said. “She is so knowledgeable about the industry and the field, and was really supportive when I was trying to figure out my career and navigating my career path.”
This was the second Pros & the Pie of the semester, and Cotter and Wierda expressed their excitement to come sit down and talk with students.
“When I was a student and when I was an intern, I had a lot of people in the industry that I had viewed as mentors,” Cotter said. “I always want to pay it forward and try to help out when I can, because it is so great having someone in your corner and having someone that can help you when you are new.”
Cotter began her career working in Augusta, Ga., and was even granted the opportunity to cover The Masters Tournament. She has now made her way to Boston alongside Wierda.
Cotter works as a news reporter for Channel 7, and Wierda is a sports reporter. Both women shared several experiences working in the news field.
“I know that the industry is very different right now,” Wierda said. “Today’s job market is very tough, and it is tough because you are eager and you want to work right out of college. You are going to get a lot of no’s at first. Keep going if you are passionate about doing it, the worst someone can say is no, and if they say no, then on to the next.”
For both Cotter and Wierda, finding the right job right out of college was not an easy task. They both had to walk their own path to create the career they wanted for themselves.
“Being able to cover sports in this market is such an honor,” Wierda said. “Looking back on where I was when I first started my career, I was covering high school sports and college basketball, and I had to work hard to get the bigger opportunities. Now I get to do all the big stuff on a regular basis, which is crazy to me.”
Wierda frequently covered the New England Patriots this season on the way to their Super Bowl appearance. Cotter, working in news, sees so many different things and has to be prepared to discuss anything at any given time.
“I grew up in the Boston area, and it has always been a dream of mine to get back and report,” Cotter said. “I’ve worked really hard to get back here. I am living my dream and working in my dream market, and getting to do it every day has been so rewarding.”
The Pros & the Pie will be back next week with Curt Menefee joining virtually over Zoom, as students are encouraged to attend in Ranger Hall on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
